PCU //\ Free Assembly Project /
St.Louis MO • www.Free-Assembly.org
_//\__________________________an Association of Volunteers__/
23 July 2021 ~ NEWS REPORT ~
USDA & Forest Service –
Promising Changes at the Top
In the wake of Trump-era depredations of federal agencies, Democrats are making conscientious efforts to restore their public missions with able & earnest leadership. This is notably true at the Department of Agriculture, hopefully to the benefit of farmers, foresters, earth stewards and gatherers for peace: The Grown-ups are back… there’s a chance to make progress.
Tom Vilsack has returned to the Secretary of Agriculture post; he served in that capacity under President Obama, and replaces Sonny Perdue, the chicken mass-murder-marketer appointed by Trump. He is well-regarded as a real professional, bringing renewed focus on good land science & best practices, and bringing in new people with the right skills & priorities – including the high chain-of-command of the U.S. Forest Service.
In late June he announced the Biden administration’s choices for the two top positions — Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment, and USFS Chief:
Homer Wilkes Nominated for USDA Under Secretary;
Randy Moore Chosen as Forest Service Chief
~ Dr. Wilkes has a creditable background in environmental policy & projects… he lately served with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), with experience in resource management and watershed plans, and strong interests in sustainable farming and climate-responsive strategies on public lands.
~ Moore is a Forest Service ‘line officer’ who rose through the ranks… he has been the Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region in California since 2007, and for the Eastern Region before that. He was also the Supervisor in Mark Twain N.F. during the turbulent events of the 1996 Rainbow Gathering in Missouri.
Both are African-Americans, the first to fill these key posts.
This is a rare moment when environmental and civil rights concerns are most likely to be heard – an opportune time to push for needed reforms in the National Forests by political direct action at the top.
The Rainbow Gatherings have some interesting history with honchos in these jobs:
Recall the “Change-the-Regs” initiatives of 2003-05, and ongoing dialogues with Under Secretary Mark Rey… in January ’04 he actually met with 40 angry hippies in San Francisco. Some problems were eased, Regs proposals got started, but the head of FS Law Enforcement obstructed the process and advocates lost momentum. PCU•FAP sent a series of applied policy critiques to Rey over several years, and made a strong record in that office.
The issues should be vivid in Randy Moore’s memory: As Forest Supervisor in 1996, the first year the ‘Group Use’ Regs took effect, a fraudulent spoof permit was signed in Milwaukee for the Missouri Gathering, then rejected by Consensus and nullified by the signer on the land. Then the FS got sued in Federal Court for their unconstitutional roadblocks – as “Incident Command” & the LEO’s preempted any constructive policy options.
Deja Vu… the same problems persist after 25 years, with systematic harassment, cops controlling FS policy, and the heinous permit Regs still on the books.
In June 2018 we followed through and submitted a formal Petition to Amend the CFR rules to the USDA. At that time, the ‘Office of Natural Resources and the Environment’ was in disarray under Trump, with only an “Acting” FS Chief, Deputy Under Secretary, and policy staff Director in place… of course they sat on it and did nothing.
Soon that proposal will be re-submitted to the new Grown-ups at USDA – who will be more responsive to higher public interests and responsible to fair procedural law. Then there will be a public info campaign, mustering support in the Administration, Congress, and allied organizations – because the honchos have to hear public noise.
This project needs the participation & cooperation of stakeholders…
you will be called upon… stay ‘tooned.
This is what democracy looks like.
_______________________________________________________
__scottie addison____
Coordinator – St.L MO